Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 817: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22696/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 818: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no public toilet currently in the homeless persons unit of the Community Welfare Office in 212 - 213 Oisín House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2; the reason this facility was not provided with a public toilet; when this toilet will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22701/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 819: To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the extra funding that is provided to fund Health Information and Quality Authority could be put to far more sensible and productive use if the funding of HIQA was to stop. [22907/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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A key component to the delivery of health and social services is to ensure that services are of high quality, safe and effective for all the people using them. In pursuit of this aim, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established in May 2007 as an independent authority to drive improvements in the quality and safety of health and social care on behalf of patients. HIQA's healthcare quality function includes the setting and monitoring of standards and the conduct of investigations. HIQA incorporates the office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services. HIQA also has functions in relation to Health Technology Assessment and Health Information. Government funding is provided to HIQA in order to allow HIQA undertake its statutory role in order to improve patients' experiences and outcomes.

The Programme for Government 2011-2016 commits to the establishment of a Patient Safety Authority to incorporate HIQA. The Programme describes a regulatory function for the PS as one of the features central to the overall reform objective of the establishment of a system of Universal Health Insurance (UHI) and of the establishment of public hospitals as independent not-for-profit trusts. The current and future structures of health care in this country will pave the way for a new culture of patient safety, openness, transparency, learning and accountability.